Washing machine



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. P. WALTER. WASHING MACHINE.

' No. 446,958. Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

I Geo r (2772 e2 UNITEB STATES Arena Fries GEORGE P. WALTER, OF BROlVNlVOOD, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO IVILLIAM II. FLESHER, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,958, dated February 24, 1891.

Application filed September 18, 1890. Serial No. 366,416. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. WALTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brownwood, in the county of Brown and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful \Vashing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in washing-machines.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of washingmachines and increase their efficacy and produce a thorough rubbing of the'clothes and to prevent the latter being torn or in any-- wise injured by the rubbing action.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View. Fig. 2 is a similar View taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view. Fig. at is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a semi-cylindrical body constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and supported by legs 2, arranged at its ends, and it is closed by a hinged cover 3, and has centrally mounted within it a rotary rubbing-cylinder at, which acts in conjunction with a stationary rubber 5, and clothes to be washed are passed between the rotary cylinder and the stationary rubber and are thoroughly rubbed by the parts when the cylinder is rotated. The cylinder is composed of three disks 6, which are mounted upon a shaft 7 and are arranged near the ends of the body and at a point intermediate of their ends, and slats 8, having their outer faces curved and being secured to the peripheries of the disks. The shaft 7 has one end extended beyond the body and provided with a cranlehandle 9, by

means of which the machine is operated. The stationary rubber consists of a series of slats 10, flexibly connected by wires 11, and extends around the curved bottom of the body and has one end provided with rack-bars 12, the teeth of which are engaged by pinions 13,

mounted upon a shaft 14:, that is journaled in the sides of the body and in hangers 15, and is adapted to be rotated to raise the adjacent end of the stationary rubber to lessen the space between the latter and the rotary cylinderto increase the pressure on the clothes being operated upon. The shaft may be held in any desirable position by a pawl and ratchet 14: or equivalent means. To prevent injury to the clothes by too great a strain, the other end of the stationary rubber is provided with rods or pins 16, which pass through perforations in the extended ends 17 of a crossbar 18, and the upper ends of the rods 10 are threaded and provided with nuts 19 and wash ers 20, and spiral springs 21 are arranged on the rod and interposed between the cross-bars and the washer and form cushions which are adapted to give when there is too great a strain on the clothes, thus preventing injury to the latter. The cross-bar 18 is secured to the lower face of a beveled strip 22, which is fastened to the body near the upper edge thereof. The cover 3 is hinged to a stationary portion 23 of the top, and this part 23 is provided with slots 24, through which the rackbars 12 project when the stationary rubber is drawn up.

It will readily be seen that the washer is simple, strong, and durable, and is capable of producing a thorough rubbing of the clothes Without liability of injuring the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shownthe shaft 7 extended beyond the body and provided with the crank-handle 9 for r0- tating the cylinder or roller; but instead of this construction the shaft may carry a cogwheel, and a pinion may be mounted upon the separate shaft to mesh with the cog-wheel, and the shaft which carries the pinion may have a crank-handle, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings; and I desire it to be understood that such changes as these may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim is- 1. In a washing-machine, the combination of the body, the rotary rubbing-cylinder, the cross-bars 18, secured to the body, the stationary rubber having one end provided with rods passing through the cross-bars and proand interposed between the heads of the 20 vided with heads, the spiral spring arranged same and the said cross-inn the shaft 111-, and

on the rods and interposed between the crossbar and the heads and forming cushions, the rack-bars 12, secured to the other end of the stationary rubber,the shaft 14-, and the pin ion mounted 011 the shaft; and meshing with the rack-bars, substantially as described.

2. In a washing-inaehine, the combination I of the body having the cross-bar 18 secured t to it and provided with perforated ends 17, t the rotary rubbing-eylinder mounted on the shaft and comprising the disks and the slats secured to the peripheries of the disks, the stationary rubber consisting of a series of slats fiexiblyconneeted by wires and provided at one end with the rods 16, having heads and provided at its other end with rackbars, the spiral spring mounted on the said rod 16 1 the pinion mounted on the shaft and meshing with the rack-bars, substantially as described. In a washing-maehine, the combination of the body, the rotary rubbing-cylinder, the

1 stationary rubber having one end provided 3 with rods, the spiral spring arranged on the t rods, the rack-bars 12, secured to the other end of the stationary rubber, and gearing engaging the rack-bars for raising or lowering the rubber, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE l. \YAL'IER.

\Vitnesses:

MARION MULLtxs, E1). E. KING. 

